ABSTRACT
The discovery of the concept of physical literacy came about as a result of a meeting between a celebrated player and coach who had become aware of the deficiencies in young children’s sporting experiences, and two individuals from the sports sector who believed that there were not enough pathways into sport for the Indian population. All were concerned about the poor fitness levels, the resulting increase in diseases caused by a lack of physical activity, and the impact this has on India’s future success in the world of sport. The resulting developments have seen physical literacy become a key focus for a number of states, teachers, schools and individuals throughout India, with clear links to Indian culture and educational aims. Clarification of understanding of the concept linked to a desire to encourage the engagement of individuals in physical activity has led to a movement that has promoted the concept at the highest government level politically, and included actions such as closing streets on a Sunday morning to allow varied physical activity events to take place and the training of teachers to understand the concept and promote physical activity in schools. This chapter also indicates how a group of people intend to continue to promote physical literacy within India in the future.
